San Anselmo 'Log Cabin' insurance crisis stirs benefactors to help

Jul. 12—A surprise insurance inspection left a San Anselmo landmark with a list of repairs totaling thousands of dollars — and only weeks to fix them.

The American Legion "Log Cabin," home to Post 179 and its Dugout Bar, needed a partial roof repair and new water heater. Volunteers rushed to get the emergency repairs done before the insurer dropped coverage. Now the expenses have left Post 179 in a tough financial spot.

"We just got hit in two weeks for almost $30,000 and we just flat out didn't have it," said Sophie Sheni, an American Legion auxiliary member who serves as a liaison to Post 179.

It was during a change in management in May that the post's insurer, Driver's Choice Insurance Agency in Riverside County, performed an inspection and sent a list of required fixes. The list went unseen until a notice of cancellation for nonconformance arrived in mid-May, Sheni said.

"It's nobody's fault," she said. "It just fell through the cracks. So we scrambled and scrambled and scrambled, and we got through the whole 12-item punch list."

The cabin's history dates back nearly a century. Construction on began on Feb. 12, 1933, an anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birthday.

Veterans and the surrounding community came together, donating time and resources, to haul redwood logs to the site. The cabin was built entirely by hand by veterans and volunteers, Sheni said. The large stone fireplace and chimney were built by a German soldier and master mason.

On May 27, 1934, the post opened the cabin and its storerooms, now the site of the Dugout Bar. Over the years, the space became a popular venue for private parties, fundraisers and community events.

The work required by the insurer varied from smaller tasks, such as putting covers on the trash bins, to bigger mandates such as a new roof, a water heater, plumbing and a fire suppression system. As volunteers rushed to get things fixed, the list seemed to get longer.

"I was under the impression that there were a few minor issues that needed to be addressed, and we were chipping away at them, but then we were told that it was a much bigger deal than we anticipated," said Luis Recinos, the post commander. "I was taken aback by the amount of work that needed to be done."

When the roofing experts evaluated the situation, they discovered new gutters were needed. When they went to replace the batteries in the exit signs, the plastic "crumbled apart" in their hands — a $2,000 fix, Sheni said.

"It was spent so quickly, we didn't really get a chance to catch our breath," Sheni said.

The insurance company reinstated the Log Cabin policy by May 30, but other issues arose. When the roofer came to collect payment, there was no money left. Rental revenue was slumping.

Sheni chipped in $12,000 to cover the bill from her personal savings. Her husband is an 88-year-old Vietnam veteran with Parkinson's disease.

"It's not like we have a lot of money," Sheni said.

An online fundraiser was launched at gofund.me/129d9abb to help recoup the costs. Jackie Tribolet, the commander at American Legion Post 313 in Larkspur, held a dance fundraiser to benefit the Log Cabin.

Tribolet said the auxiliary at the Log Cabin is extremely generous and always willing to lend a hand on any fundraiser she does.

"If we lose that post, it's going to hurt all of the organizations," Tribolet said. "They just go above and beyond for every effort there's ever been, and through no fault of their own, they hit this financial snag."

Sheni said the cabin is "more than deserving," and noted how, in general, veterans' spaces are a "dying breed" that are essential to preserve.

"We have to save this one," Tribolet said. "I want it to be there for future veterans."

Post 179 and the auxiliary unit have supported three Boy Scout troops and a Little League; sent 19 high schoolers to the American Legion's Boys State and Girls State Program; held holiday toy and blood drives; and served as a polling place during elections. Members have sent thousands of care packages to troops overseas.

It's also a community hangout, Recinos said. Holiday events draw hundreds of people from the area, and many locals celebrate milestones such as weddings and graduations there.

"I talked to several people who grew up going to the Log Cabin with their families," Recinos said. "Even though it's kind of a hidden gem, it is part of the social fabric here. It's a whole community thing. It's really nice."

San Rafael resident Steve Peixotto said the Dugout Bar is unique, quirky and easily accessible. He said it's a local hangout that always fosters community connection.

"It's the place where you can go if you grew up in Marin, you walk in there and you're pretty sure you're going to find an old school friend that you knew when you were little," Peixotto said. "It's a little bit of a secret, and a night there is always going to be a good night."

Marinwood resident Bill McNicholas, a member of the Marin County United Veterans Council, said that when he heard about the financial problems, he knew he had to help. He goes to the Log Cabin for big events — Veterans Day, Memorial Day and Fourth of July barbecues — and said he'd go more if he lived closer.

"I think it's a valuable thing because it's open to the public and it develops that community relationship with the public," McNicholas said. "It just makes for an enhancement. I do very activity support it and when I saw it I called and said yeah, I'll put money into it."

Recinos said seeing people spring to action on the repairs and donating to the Log Cabin has been inspiring, and shows the community values the historic building and veterans.

"That makes a great statement about not just San Anselmo, but the area around us too," he said.

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